It was, of course, nothing. Alexis Sanchez informed the world as he attempted to put out the fire started during Chile's friendly with El Salvador, doused in paraffin in the changing rooms and then exposed to a stunned nation in the morning's newspapers.

Chile expects, and that's not something we've said for a while. Which is precisely why and such an uncomfortable tone wasn't particularly welcomed by fans of La Roja, just when they were beginning to believe that their team could end its Copa America hoodoo on home soil this month.

The chances of that, in truth, are quite good. All of the basics - a good coach, talented players, favourable conditions - are there and, more than in virtually any tournament you've seen, the hosts have a hugely-favourable draw. Chile were drawn with Ecuador, Bolivia and Mexico's cast-offs (their best team will play at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July) in Group A. Additionally, they have the easiest quarter-final draw should they do the inevitable and top the group, before avoiding Brazil and Argentina in the semis.

All in all, the stars are aligned for Chile to win their first-ever Copa America. That they never have done in the tournament's 99-year history is a source of much embarrassment to a nation who were even beaten to it by minnow neighbours Bolivia, but it also points towards a wider issue, their aimless years of wandering.

On a continent where football spread like wildfire, capturing imaginations from the Atlantic to the Pacific (via the Amazon) there have been a raft of footballing cultures that have emerged: Uruguay are renowned for their indigenous fighting spirit, the Garra Charrúa, while Brazil are world-famous for their stylish play - later capitalised upon by Nike's 'Joga Bonito' campaign. Argentina is a schizophrenic footballing personality, split between the schools of Carlos Bilardo and Cesar Luis Menotti but it is at least an excess of philosophies rather than a void, which is where Chile come in.

This inch-wide nation clings to the Pacific coast of South America, its fingers wrapped around the Andes, its head in the Atacama Desert and its toes frozen by Antarctica.

Perhaps being so vertically spread hasn't helped in finding a footballing way that defines the nation but, in 2007 a missionary crossed the Argentine border with a message, and it stuck.

The Marc of a genius: Bielsa watches on (Image: Clive Rose)

That man was Marcelo Bielsa, and he single-handedly transformed this nation's style. Their 2010 World Cup campaign entertained and inspired, then in 2014, Jorge Sampaoli - a self-confessed Bielsan disciple - dazzled and destroyed, knocking out all-conquering Spain on

Sampaoli remains in charge and is still the man who makes his team greater than the sum of his parts. He is very much a 'system' coach, wedded largely to a high-energy 3-4-1-2 or minor variations thereof, but his players know it well and we have already seen the results.

His squad is, arguably, the best it has ever been. Arturo Vidal has just been at the heart of a Juventus team that came within 90 minutes of winning a treble, Alexis Sanchez just topped Thierry Henry's debut season at Arsenal, Gary Medel is back playing at the top level and Claudio Bravo swept all before him in Barcelona. As spines go it is pretty good, and the pieces that slot in around them aren't bad either.

Charles Aranguiz, Eduardo Vargas and a handful of other players were at Universidad de Chile under Sampaoli and always seem to perform for their coach. Don't expect the Vargas who was used out of position and branded one of QPR's 'bad eggs' last year.

Their problem lies in defence, where the majority of players are serviceable but they lack anyone of height. This manifests itself at set pieces, where they are really weak defensively and it cost them at the World Cup and will cost them again this month if it's not resolved.

It could also be said that what the Chileans lack is a real centre-forward with Humberto Suazo's decline. If they had a Marcelo Salas figure now (or even an Ivan Zamorano) it would be a fearsome attack. As it is, the pressure will fall upon Alexis Sanchez to lead the charge.

The Tocopilla-born forward only ever played two seasons in his homeland, one with local side Cobresal and the other at Santiago giants Colo-Colo as an Udinese loanee. He has since lit up the Argentine league, then Serie A, La Liga and now the Premier League. He has played centrally, wide left, wide right and behind the striker. This is a versatile talent, and one that is ripening as he enters his peak years.

Continental rivals: Alexis Sanchez beat Marcelo (Image: Reuters)

That expectation pushing down on him is probably what prompted that spat with Marcelo Diaz last weekend as he broke rank to try and nab a free kick. Diaz labelled him "greedy". Sanchez didn't say it, but he knows deep down - having not yet scored for Chile in 2015 - that he has to be on fine goalscoring form by the time the Copa rolls round.

"These things happen all the time," he said of the row. Maybe so, but playing a continental championships in your own back yard don't, and that's why Alexis Sanchez is under so much pressure to lead the Chileans to glory.